Intern Spaceship ECSAT Team

Intern in the Spaceship ECSAT Team (Internship). Job Requisition . Date posted: 1 July 2026. Closing date: 29 July 2026 23:59 CET/CEST. Publication:
External Only. Type of Appointment:
Intern. Directorate:
Human and Robotic Exploration. Workplace: ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom.

Location:

ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom. Due to the location of ECSAT and current UK legislation, only UK citizens, students enrolled in a UK university, or those with pre‑settled status (right to study) in the UK are eligible to apply for this internship.

Our team and mission:
The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE) is the main ESA entity in charge of supporting and coordinating efforts towards the current and future endeavours of human spaceflight. The exploration activities are part of the strategic plans in securing a central role for Europe with respect to the global initiatives. The strategy includes three destinations where humans will work with robots to gather new knowledge:
Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the Moon, and Mars. The “Spaceship ECSAT” initiative investigates low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies for supporting the future cislunar space mission as well as surface activities on the Moon as part of the Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology (ExPeRT) team. This multidisciplinary, innovation‑driven team is based at the ESA European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT).

Key fields of work:

• Demonstrating disruptive technologies such as Virtual/Augmented Reality and collaborative robotics and their potential use cases for exploration.
• Investigating novel concepts in the domain of Space Resources/In‑Situ Resource Utilisation to enable sustainable human exploration.
• Topics related to ‘off world living’, e.g. human factors, design and concept illustration.

The team also supports the development of the VULCAN analogue sample facility at ECSAT, a focal point for simulant development and curation activities in Europe.

Field(s) of activity for the internship:
Students can choose between the following topics:

• Topic 1:
  Spaceship ECSAT – Robotics – Focus on remote manipulation and surface mobility.
• Topic 2:
  Spaceship ECSAT – VR/XR – Focus on virtual and augmented reality applied to training, decision making and outreach with a focus on embedded systems and graphic design.
• Topic 3:
  Spaceship ECSAT – Astronaut assistant – Focus on human‑machine interfaces and machine learning.

Behavioural competencies:
Result Orientation, Operational Efficiency, Fostering Cooperation, Relationship Management, Continuous Improvement, Forward Thinking.

Education:

You must be a university student, preferably studying at master’s level, and be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your University for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional Requirements:

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset. During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored. Knowledge and background in the topical areas presented for Spaceship ECSAT is required.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness: ESA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving diversity within the workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious beliefs, age, disability or other characteristics. We welcome people with disabilities and provide necessary support at the workplace. Assistance during the recruitment process can be provided by the Human Resources Department.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact us via email an.resources.

Important Information and Disclaimer:
During the recruitment process, the Agency may request applicants to undergo selection tests. Applicants must be eligible to access information, technology, and hardware which is subject to European or US export control and sanctions regulations. The information published on ESA’s careers website regarding internship conditions is correct at the time of publication. It is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have.

Nationality:
Applications are only considered from nationals of one of the following States:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.